Sir Edward Gordon Jones

12:01AM GMT 27 Feb 2007

Air Marshal Sir Edward Gordon Jones, who has died aged 92, commanded a squadron of outdated Gladiator bi-planes in the ill-fated Greek campaign, in which he was credited with shooting down five Italian fighters; his dashing leadership earned him the DSO, DFC and the Greek DFC.

Gordon Jones was a flight commander with No 80 Squadron operating in the Western Desert when he was ordered to take his flight to Trikkala in central Greece in November 1940. Within days he was in action, engaging a formation of Italian Fiat CR 42 fighters, and he shot one down on November 27.

The next day he was leading a formation of six Gladiators when they encountered at least 10 of the enemy fighters. In the ensuing battle he drove several Fiats off the tails of his colleagues and shot down two. He himself then came under attack; his aircraft was badly damaged and he took a bullet in the neck. He managed to return to base and spent the next month recovering from his injuries.

On December 21 Gordon Jones returned to take command of No 80 after his CO had been killed by fire from an enemy fighter as he descended in his parachute. During a particularly severe winter, he and his pilots continued to fly patrols in their open-cockpit fighters.

On February 28 1941 the RAF enjoyed its most successful day of the Greek campaign. Operating from a forward airstrip close to the Albanian border, Gordon Jones was leading his Gladiators on a patrol when they encountered a superior force of Italian bombers and fighters. In the battle that followed Gladiators - and Hurricanes, arriving as reinforcements - shot down a number of aircraft. Two Fiats were the victims of Gordon Jones, and he was awarded an immediate DFC. He also received a DFC from the Greek government.

No 80 was re-equipped with Hurricanes, and on April 6 the Germans invaded Greece; the RAF losses increased and the squadron was forced to withdraw to Crete. Finally, on April 29, Gordon Jones and most of the survivors left for Egypt before moving to Aqir, in Palestine, where the job of rebuilding the squadron began.

The third of four sons of Lt-Col Dr Albert Jones DSO, MC, Edward Gordon Jones was born on August 31 1914 at Widnes and educated at the local grammar school. His early childhood had been spent in India, where his energy caused his three brothers to christen him "Doolally Tap", a vernacular expression meaning "slightly mad"; the nickname "Tap" remained with him for the rest of his life.

After school he entered Liverpool University to study Medicine before deciding to pursue veterinary science. Although he loved shooting, gun dogs and the outdoor life he had no real interest in being a vet, his sole ambition being to fly with the RAF. He neglected his studies, concentrating on rugby and courting his future wife, a fellow student. Eventually, his powerful mother gave up and let him join the RAF.

Gordon Jones joined the service in 1935 and trained as a pilot at Netheravon before joining No 17 Squadron to fly Gauntlet fighters at Kenley, Surrey. Six months later his flight was detached to form No 80 Squadron, which soon re-equipped with the Gladiator, the last of the RAF's bi-plane fighters. In May 1938 the squadron moved to Egypt, and within a few months was in action in Palestine.

When the Italians declared war on June 10 1940 Gordon Jones was commanding "A" Flight and the squadron flew its first patrols from Amriya, in Egypt. In late November came the order to move to Greece. After the Greek debacle Gordon Jones and his surviving comrades went into action against the Vichy French in Syria. He finally left No 80 after four years, and was awarded the DSO.

Following a year with the Rhodesian Air Training Group, Gordon Jones returned to England to command the fighter airfield at Hawkinge, Kent. In July 1943 he was promoted to group captain and joined the staff preparing the tactical air plan for the invasion of Europe, responsible for co-ordinating fighter operations in No 83 Group. The group's headquarters moved to France within days of the invasion to establish fighter strips and co-ordinate the close support operations of its Spitfire and Typhoon squadrons. As the land battle moved eastwards, Gordon Jones and his staff followed immediately behind. On his departure after 18 months he was appointed OBE.

In December 1944 Gordon Jones returned to operational flying, having been given command of No 121 Wing of four Typhoon squadrons. During constant action against ground targets, the rocket-firing Typhoons became the scourge of enemy transport on roads, railways and canals. As the war in Europe ended, Gordon Jones left to join the disarmament staff.

He enjoyed a glittering postwar career, almost all in the operational arena; uniquely, he never served in the Air Ministry or Ministry of Defence. After serving at the School of Land/Air Warfare he commanded a jet flying school before serving on operational duties at the HQ Second Tactical Air Force. He was attached to the HQ Air Task Force in charge of operations during the Suez crisis, and in 1957 he took command of RAF Wyton, the home of the RAF's strategic reconnaissance force.

On promotion to air commodore in January 1959, Gordon Jones was appointed AOC the Central Reconnaissance Establishment. He then became AOC, RAF Germany, at a time when the Cuban missile crisis brought his squadrons to a high state of readiness. After two years at the Imperial Defence College, he was made AOC Malta and Deputy Commander-in-Chief (Air), Allied Forces, Mediterranean.

On promotion to Air Marshal in November 1966 he was appointed AOC-in-C Near East Air Forces and Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus. From 1967 to 1969 he was Commander of British Forces, Near East. He retired in August 1969.

Gordon Jones was appointed CBE in 1956, CB in 1960 and KCB in 1967.

A handsome man with a commanding presence, Gordon Jones was a keen sportsman, having represented Liverpool University, Lancashire and the RAF at rugby in his younger days. He remained passionate about rugby and cricket and enjoyed watching sport on his 42in plasma television screen.

"Tap" Gordon Jones died on February 20. He married, in 1938, Margery Hatfield. They had met on St David's Day 1934, when he borrowed money from his ever-generous eldest brother to buy her a large bunch of daffodils. For the 63 years of their marriage, a similar bunch arrived every St David's Day. She died in 2002, and he is survived by their two sons.